Tiny But Mighty Second John: Lesson 9 - Conclusion

Read 2 John 12-13.

Focus on 2 John 12-13.

Knowledge

Answer the following questions from the text:

v. 12 What does John have to write?

How does he not wish to communicate?

What does he hope to do instead? (2 actions)

With what purpose/result?

v. 13 Who greets the letter’s recipient?

Understanding & Knowledge

Today we wrap up John’s tiny second epistle. We’ve studied his greeting and the intersection of truth, love, grace, mercy, and peace. We’ve examined the old command to love one another. We’ve grappled with how to handle deceivers.

This brings us to the final two verse of the letter, which contains John’s closing notes.

Final Salutations

Like the opening greeting, it is easy to skim past the final salutations of a letter. Yet this too has been included for our instruction. So what can we learn from these final two verses in 2 John?

1. We don’t have to address everything at once. John makes it clear that what he has written in his letter is not all he has to say. It isn’t even the majority of what he wants to say. But instead of cramming everything into one space (as I would be tempted to do), John exercises restraint. He recognizes that while it all might be important—and if must have been important if it was worth a physical trip to say it—he also knew not all the matters were urgent. So instead of requesting more parchment, he chooses to delay whatever else he had to say, merely letting the reader know that there was more to come.

Question to ponder: How do we delineate between the important which is urgent and the simply important?  

2. In-person communication is preferable. Texting is convenient. Emails are nice. Handwritten letters carry a personal touch to be treasured. Telephone calls can delight, while Zoom often permits us to connect in ways that would otherwise be impossible. But in the end, there is something special about inhabiting the same place at the same time with another person. To be able to hear the voice, see the face, and give a hug or touch a hand. To be surrounded by the same environment, sharing the same sights, smells, sounds, tastes, and textures. To be with another in a way that technology, with all its benefits, cannot duplicate.

So John expresses his strong desire to come to the chosen lady and her family, to spend time with them, and talk face to face. Indeed, in an era of growing layers of technology, with screens and touch-ups and filters that can create a false reality, it may be that such in-person meetings are more vital than ever.

Questions to ponder: What are some of the unique advantages in-person visits can provide? How, both as individuals and as churches, can we cultivate this more/better?

3. Christian fellowship, at its best, produces full joy. This joy was one reason John wanted to visit the chosen lady and her family. He knew such a visit would bring joy—that is, delight, happiness, well-being, gladness—and that this joy would be complete and full, as the anticipated became reality and the far away drew near.

Questions to ponder: What hampers our Christian fellowship so it lacks this fullness and joy?

4. We all want to be remembered. John finishes his letter with greeting from the children of the lady’s chosen sister. This was fairly typical, as a quick survey of the other New Testament letters will show. However, this ordinariness doesn’t make such a greeting insignificant. Rather, it reminds us of the common human desired to be known. It doesn’t matter whether this refers to nieces and nephews greeting an aunt or one church greeting a sister church. Both collectively and individually, we want to be remembered by others—and collectively and individually, we need to take the time to remember others.

Questions to ponder: Who are some of the people we should especially take time to remember? What are some of the ways we can remember others?

Wrap-up Thoughts

Thus ends our study of 2 John. But as we close this book, I would like to invite you to pause and look back over the whole of the book one last time:

• What has surprised you about 2 John? 
• What did you learn from 2 John? 
• What will you take away from 2 John?

Make it personal

One truth learned:

One area of conviction:

One way to correct:

Written prayer: